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Different Aspects of Imperialism in India

Imperialism can be taken both in a good way or a bad way. This is determined by which perspective the story is being told. As for the colonizers, they might be telling the story that favors imperialism as they are providing the accommodations for their colonies. However, in the eyes of the colonized, they might have a negative opinion towards imperialism. This is certainly the case when the British colonized India.

In the eyes of the British, they were the path towards modern civilizations. They had “Developed the territory by building roads, canals, railways, and telegraphs (Doc 1).” They believed India was “incapable” of colonizing themselves. So for those in favor of British colonialism in India, they were providing all the needs in order for India to become colonized. Not only that, but the British had provided India with means of communication, irrigation, cultivation, industrialization, and better sanitation. In addition, the British had brought with them education, peace, and had introduced India to a modern lifestyle. By this point, it seems like British colonialism in India had benefitted India in a lot of ways. But keep in mind that this is the perspective of the colonizers.

However, this same story can be told in a different way through the eyes of the Indians. Although the British provided the accommodations for the Indians, the British were able to make a profit from these accommodations. So while helping India, the British were charging all the accommodations they provided. Not only this, but the Indians had no choice on which accommodations they wanted- if they wanted any. Also, despite Indian people living in India, the British had “Occupied almost all the higher places in every department in government (Doc 2).” They had no control over their destinies, could not voice their opinions, and had no say in what got done to them and their country. By the time India was ready for independence, the British had taken all their goods with them. The British had leeched off of India’s wealth, goods, and raw materials. With this being said, the story told by the Indians is much different than the story told by the British.

So, in the eyes of the Indians, they were tired of the British leeching off of them and taking total control over their lives. One of these people, Mohandas Gandhi, encouraged people to seek self-rule using passing resistance, an example of nonviolent protesting. Gandhi and many other people thought that their government that was being driven by the British had left them poor and treated them inferior to the British. So, by 1947, India had gained independence from Britain.